Talking Points....
9/22/2026
This week's discussion will focus on God's advancing message to Brother Adrian for our church, "Faith to Step Forward."
I. We need to have the faith to step forward to Him.
A. God isn't done with you.
1. If you can feel your heart beating, it shows you that God isn't done with you yet.
2. While there is life, there is hope.
3. Everything is going to be alright.
4. Isaiah 54:17 - But in that coming day
no weapon turned against you will succeed.
You will silence every voice
raised up to accuse you.
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;
their vindication will come from me.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
5. No weapon formed against you will prosper.
6. What things can you do to remind yourself that no weapon formed against you will prosper when you find yourself in the middle of challenging times?
B. Step forward.
1. Mark 3:1-6 - Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.
Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him.
He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.
2. This man with the withered hand had a visible and lasting wound in his life that Jesus wanted to heal.
3. When we see someone who needs healing or a touch from God, what should we do and when should we do it?
C. You can be saved but not healed.
1. You can be in the right place and still be broken.
2. You can be whole but still fragmented.
3. When we find ourselves frustrated because of our problems, what can we do to change that perspective?
D. Jesus loves us enough to meet us where we are, but not leave us there.
1. He wants us to step forward so that He can restore us.
2. Share a time when you stepped forward so that He could heal you and how that helped you.
E. God gave Adam dominion and authority we were all meant to live in.
1. Sin put a wedge between us and God.
2. Jesus was the antidote meant to restore us.
3. When you are feeling a wedge between you and God, what should you do to change that?
F. Jesus walked slow enough for even sick people to step forward, and reach out to Him.
1. The woman with the issue of bleeding was able to step forward to reach out to Jesus.
2. We shouldn't be rushing around all the time, or else we may be kept from Him and His plans for us.
3. We should slow down so that we are able to see and hear from God.
4. How can we slow down our lives, so that we can be available for His plans?
G. God isn't looking for us to fix our past mistakes before coming to Him.
1. Ironically, many people believe before restoration is possible, they need to resolve their past mistakes.
2. Restoration can only happen when we look and step forward.
3. Why do you think that God isn't looking for us to fix our past before we come to Him for restoration?
H. Jesus interrupts the patterns of life that we have created.
1. Proverbs 16:9 - We can make our plans,
but the Lord determines our steps.
2. Has God ever interrupted your plans for His purpose? How did it go?
I. We need to not dwell on the past.
1. The devil wants us to focus on the wrong things, so that he can keep us from God.
2. Isaiah 43:18-19 - But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
3. When the devil is being a jerk, what things do you find helpful to keep you focus on God?
J. Give God the areas that are withered and broken.
1. Unlike the man with the withered hand, many of us, if asked to stretch out our hand by Jesus, would give Him our good hand and not the withered one.
2. God wants to heal our broken hearts.
3. 1 Samuel 16:7b - The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
4. Jesus didn't condemn the man with the withered hand.
5. Jesus loved and wanted to heal him.
6. How does it make you feel to know that God wants your brokenness, and how does that encourage you to bring it to Him?
K. Our God is more than powerful enough, and wants to heal and restore you.
1. Have faith to step forward, and He will heal and restore you.
2. When we find ourselves lacking the faith to step forward, what should we do?
L. Reflection time.
1. What has stood out to you the most with this message "Faith to Step Forward?"
This week's discussion will focus on God's advancing message to Brother Adrian for our church, "Faith to Step Forward."
I. We need to have the faith to step forward to Him.
A. God isn't done with you.
1. If you can feel your heart beating, it shows you that God isn't done with you yet.
2. While there is life, there is hope.
3. Everything is going to be alright.
4. Isaiah 54:17 - But in that coming day
no weapon turned against you will succeed.
You will silence every voice
raised up to accuse you.
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;
their vindication will come from me.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
5. No weapon formed against you will prosper.
6. What things can you do to remind yourself that no weapon formed against you will prosper when you find yourself in the middle of challenging times?
B. Step forward.
1. Mark 3:1-6 - Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.
Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him.
He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.
2. This man with the withered hand had a visible and lasting wound in his life that Jesus wanted to heal.
3. When we see someone who needs healing or a touch from God, what should we do and when should we do it?
C. You can be saved but not healed.
1. You can be in the right place and still be broken.
2. You can be whole but still fragmented.
3. When we find ourselves frustrated because of our problems, what can we do to change that perspective?
D. Jesus loves us enough to meet us where we are, but not leave us there.
1. He wants us to step forward so that He can restore us.
2. Share a time when you stepped forward so that He could heal you and how that helped you.
E. God gave Adam dominion and authority we were all meant to live in.
1. Sin put a wedge between us and God.
2. Jesus was the antidote meant to restore us.
3. When you are feeling a wedge between you and God, what should you do to change that?
F. Jesus walked slow enough for even sick people to step forward, and reach out to Him.
1. The woman with the issue of bleeding was able to step forward to reach out to Jesus.
2. We shouldn't be rushing around all the time, or else we may be kept from Him and His plans for us.
3. We should slow down so that we are able to see and hear from God.
4. How can we slow down our lives, so that we can be available for His plans?
G. God isn't looking for us to fix our past mistakes before coming to Him.
1. Ironically, many people believe before restoration is possible, they need to resolve their past mistakes.
2. Restoration can only happen when we look and step forward.
3. Why do you think that God isn't looking for us to fix our past before we come to Him for restoration?
H. Jesus interrupts the patterns of life that we have created.
1. Proverbs 16:9 - We can make our plans,
but the Lord determines our steps.
2. Has God ever interrupted your plans for His purpose? How did it go?
I. We need to not dwell on the past.
1. The devil wants us to focus on the wrong things, so that he can keep us from God.
2. Isaiah 43:18-19 - But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
3. When the devil is being a jerk, what things do you find helpful to keep you focus on God?
J. Give God the areas that are withered and broken.
1. Unlike the man with the withered hand, many of us, if asked to stretch out our hand by Jesus, would give Him our good hand and not the withered one.
2. God wants to heal our broken hearts.
3. 1 Samuel 16:7b - The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
4. Jesus didn't condemn the man with the withered hand.
5. Jesus loved and wanted to heal him.
6. How does it make you feel to know that God wants your brokenness, and how does that encourage you to bring it to Him?
K. Our God is more than powerful enough, and wants to heal and restore you.
1. Have faith to step forward, and He will heal and restore you.
2. When we find ourselves lacking the faith to step forward, what should we do?
L. Reflection time.
1. What has stood out to you the most with this message "Faith to Step Forward?"